SOAR to Success

Partnering with you on your academic journey - do any of these statements sound familiar?

  • I feel like I never have enough time.
  • I'm just not feeling motivated to do my work.
  • I'm not sure how to be a successful student.

If yes, you are not alone. Academic life can be challenging, and we are here to help.

 

 

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Success Coaching

We are here for you to offer personalized academic support and connect you to the resources you need to stay on track with your academic goals.

During your first meeting, your coach will ask conversational questions to understand your current experiences, habits, and possible areas for growth. Then you’ll explore potential solutions together. A typical first appointment includes:

  • Chatting about your course load, quarter, and interests
  • Discussing the topic that brought you to coaching or, if you’re unsure, exploration of what a relevant topic could be
  • Sharing strategies that might work for you, and how you'd like to tailor them to your situation

You can make as many follow-up appointments as you’d like.  We understand that building new habits is difficult, and we’re happy to discuss ways of overcoming these obstacles with you.

Schedule your Academic Coaching Appointment

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Repeating Courses

Students may freely retake any course for a second attempt at a grade. Students attempting to enroll in a third or subsequent attempt will receive an Error in Workday indicating that they have exceeded allowable attempts for the course. Students can get an override to add the third attempt by completing an Academic Improvement Plan with the SOAR team. Enrolling in a course and receiving any grade, including a “W” counts as a course attempt. This follows the University’s Course Repeat Policy adopted in 2026. Beginning with summer 2027 enrollment, fourth attempts and beyond will require a petition to the Academic Standards Committee.   

You can complete an Academic Improvement Plan with SOAR during drop-in advising in the CORD (Weekdays, 9-3 pm, check-in at the CORD Connection Desk) or by scheduling Course Repeat Approval Meetings with the CORD Advocate Team. Email AcademicSOS@uark.edu for information.  

Online Students: Contact online student success at onlinesuccess@uark.edu to schedule an appointment.  

What can I expect in an Academic Improvement Plan meeting?

The goal of this meeting is to help students identify their academic strengths and make a plan to improve their study habits going forward. Students reflect on what circumstances led them to struggle in the past and to articulate help seeking strategies that work for their situation. Advisors are also proficient in Major Exploration Advising and will talk to the student about pathways that may help them to succeed academically and professionally if they need to change direction.  

Students will complete a reflection and plan worksheet, which will be signed by a success coach. Coaches will sign off on an Administrative Change of Registration form to allow the student to enroll in a course where they have exceeded the allowable attempts. Students are encouraged to make ongoing meetings to work with coaches for accountability and resilience.

 

Administrative users of Workday can see all repeated course attempts for an individual student with the report RPT – Grade Repeat Policy (UAF) 

SOAR drop-ins can check in at the CORD Connection Desk - feel free to escort them over if you are in the building!  

What other outreach does the SOAR Team provide?


In addition to student-driven appointments, our team also proactively outreaches to students who might not be achieving academic milestones in their major. We partner with academic advising units, career services, and retention specialists across campus in order to provide students with individualized and targeted support. 

FACULTY/STAFF REFERRALS

I'm a faculty/staff member. Can I refer a student to the Academic Support team?

When you raise this flag, you can provide information about the academic concern, and one of our academic support coaches will reach out to the student.
The student will not see that this flag was raised.

Option 1

Option 2